CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A business woman who swooped in to save a Charlottetown business almost a year ago wants to do the same for animals on P.E.I.
Wicker Emporium, as a chain, closed six of its stores in Atlantic Canada in 2018 before Stephanie Briggs, who co-owns an online furniture retailer in Quebec, came in and purchased the trade name. Charlottetown was one of the first stores to re-open and will celebrate its one-year anniversary this weekend.
Briggs said instead of having the traditional tax sale, she decided to donate 10 per cent of all sales to the P.E.I. Humane Society, explaining that she was touched after reading a recent story in The Guardian about the animal shelter taking in nearly 40 dogs and cats from an owner unable to care for them.
Briggs re-opened the Charlottetown Wicker Emporium on March 2, 2019. The sale will begin on Friday and continue through Sunday.
“Animals have such an impact on our lives,’’ Briggs said in a telephone interview from Montreal. “(My first thought was) Wicker Emporium may take a lot of money to run but (the humane society) also needs a lot of money to survive. My store manager has pets; I have pets. All of these animals need homes and there’s lots of joy and happiness that these little creatures give us. (We want) to do anything we can do basically support them.’’
“Animals have such an impact on our lives. (My first thought was) Wicker Emporium may take a lot of money to run but (the humane society) also needs a lot of money to survive. My store manager has pets; I have pets. All of these animals need homes and there’s lots of joy and happiness that these little creatures give us. (We want) to do anything we can do basically support them.’’
She also reached out to Candi’s Cakes and Creations on Great George Street in Charlottetown which will supply free cupcakes to customers on Saturday.
Brigg’s goal is to raise at least $1,000 for the humane society.
“I really hope it’s a good weekend because I don’t want to give them a little cheque. We want to donate to the shelter to try to help all of those dogs and cats and give them everything they need for at least as long as the cashflow (donation) can give them.’’
Briggs said everyone is welcome to drop by even if they don’t plan on purchasing anything from her store. She’s asking people to drop off anything from canned pet food to play toys.
Briggs said it has been an exciting first year and is looking forward to a long future offering unique furniture and decor to P.E.I.
"I believe wholeheartedly in the Charlottetown market and I'm glad that the store's unique offerings that are in such demand.''
